Aubameyang admits confidence issues

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that he’s feeling a lot more confident after netting his third goal for Arsenal – one more than Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud have netted, combined, since leaving Arsenal.

The Gabon international, who will play all his minutes in the league this season, cup-tied as he is for the Europa League, pounced to score Arsenal’s second of the game before setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for the final goal of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Watford.

“Yes, it’s starting to come,” he told Arsenal. “Today was a great team effort. I think the confidence is back I think, for me as well. I am feeling better and I have to thank my team-mates.

“Of course it’s not always easy to come in into a new team and integrate into the group, everyone knows that.

Auba flips out

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(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

“So it was a difficult moment for the club, but now are back on form, and that’s good for us.”

Arsenal have played six games that Auba was eligible for and the win over Watford was only their second win, such as been their awful form of late.

Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal have turned a corner after what he describes as a ‘nightmare week’ but as the thousands of empty seats told the club loud and clear, it is not just the team’s form since the final against Manchester City which is the problem – Arsenal had already lost 11 games this season before the Wembley showpiece that many at the club seem happy to forget about.

Wenger, as always however, thinks fan apathy and anger is all down to the most recent set of results rather than the recurring pattern we witness every season which is getting worse.

“There is a lot of negativity,” Wenger said. “It’s like rain in England, it’s easy to get. I don’t know, basically, how much negativity is out there. I focus on my job and I think I have shown in 22 years that I can do that, that I respect everybody’s opinion and that I focus on my job with total commitment.

“I want our fans to be behind the team and be happy. But after what happened in that week, it’s a bit understandable. We are in a job where we have to get the fans on our side and do absolutely everything to do it, to achieve it. That’s what we want to do.”

Arsenal are currently five points ahead of Burnley, who sit seventh, but eight points away from Chelsea in fifth. The gap to fourth is 12 points, to Spurs 13, to United 17 and to City 30.

But sure, let’s blame it all on losing the League Cup final and one bad week.